The man convicted of the brutal rape and murder of a young woman in Palmerston North has had a rocky first few months of freedom, and has been slapped with a night-time curfew after some "risky behaviour".

Carl Martinson was released from jail in August last year after serving 19 years for the murder of Donnell Marie Wood, 19, outside her Victoria Ave flat in May 1993.

Her naked body was found the next morning with a shirt tied around her neck. In a prolonged attack, Martinson had garrotted Miss Wood with the strap of her handbag, which was held in place by a branch, raped her, then stomped her to death.

Martinson, then 17, claimed he blacked out and could not remember anything about the killing.

After a 1994 trial he was sentenced to a minimum of 13 years' prison.

This month Martinson saw the parole board to report on his progress. At a similar hearing in January he was said to be coping well, although he was finding it difficult to get a job. The Manawatu Standard is unable to report where Mr Martinson now lives.

"Mr Martinson, until relatively recently, had been making good progress while on parole," says his latest report, released to the Standard this week. Trouble started though when Martinson invited a couple with nowhere else to go to live with him for a short time.

"The board had concerns that while a male friend was away at work during the day, there were occasions when Mr Martinson was at home with the female friend and that the two of them were alone at the address," the report says.

Martinson did not let his probation officer know he could be alone with the woman, although he had advised the officer she would be living there.

However, a more "significant concern" arose when Martinson went to a nightclub to help another "female friend" who felt scared because a man was following her.

"Mr Martinson again recognised that this was risky behaviour on his part, given the nature of his ... offending, which attracted the life sentence."

The board decided Martinson is now aware of the risks his behaviour created and acknowledges he is focused on his own situation, rather than helping others.

"Overall it appears that Mr Martinson's response to parole has been satisfactory. The board has therefore decided that it will not be necessary for Mr Martinson to appear for a further progress and monitoring hearing."